I'd like to address a recent letter to the editor concerning our organization. Citizens for an Informed Hicksville (CIH) is an organization made up of dozens of Hicksville residents dedicated to increasing interest in local government by encouraging participation in civic associations, raising awareness of local elections and issues and bringing together residents to seek out and support candidates that will best serve the interests of our community.

CIH does not charge any dues for membership and participation is completely voluntary. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month in the Community Room of the Library at 7 p.m. We coordinated our meeting date with other civic organizations (including Hicksville Gardens Civic Association and the NorthWest Civic Association) at a Hicksville Community Council meeting of community leaders that took place in the Community Room of the Hicksville Public Library in June of this year.

CIH members have voluntarily:

• Advocated for extending voting hours, additional voting locations and providing absentee ballots in the annual Hicksville Fire Commissioner election (our Water District and School District allow absentee ballots);

• participated in Meet the Candidates Night with the Hicksville Community Council;

• worked on the committee exploring the feasibility of incorporating Hicksville;

• some of us have taken the course to become certified by the OEM's Community Emergency Response Team; and

• participated in the school board, water district and fire commissioner elections

CIH has an ongoing effort to register residents to vote and to encourage them to participate in local elections.

CIH meetings are open to the public. And, just like any other group that meets at the library, those who come to participate are welcome.

If a member of our community is seeking public office, they are welcome to seek support from CIH and members of CIH are free to choose whether or not they want to assist a candidate.

Members of CIH are supporting Mike Krummenacker for Fire Commissioner because of his extensive qualifications. CIH members spoke with two other potential candidates in September and October. Mr. Krummenacker's opponent was not excluded from consideration by CIH. He did not seek support from our organization and did not announce his candidacy until November.

The most important thing of all is that you come out and vote on Tuesday, Dec. 12. You will not face the long lines and lengthy wait some of us experienced in the past few election years. Thanks to many members of this community and groups like ours we now have extended voting hours - 4 to 9 p.m., and two locations where you can vote: The main firehouse on East Marie Street and Station 4 on Levittown Parkway.

Terry Tietjen

Member, Citizens for an Informed Hicksville